Rick and Morty (2013)

About Rick and Morty

Rick and Morty is an animated science-fiction sitcom created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon for Cartoon Network's adult programming block, Adult Swim. It follows the eccentric, alcoholic scientist Rick Sanchez and his well-meaning but easily influenced grandson Morty Smith. Balancing domestic family drama with inter-dimensional adventures, the show explores ethical quandaries, existential dread, and the nature of personal identity.

Making / Production

Created by Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland, the series premiered on December 2, 2013. Roiland voices both of the show's main characters, while Harmon writes and produces. It's noted for its narrative complexity, musical selections, and commitment to exploring dark and often controversial themes.

Actors

• Justin Roiland as Rick Sanchez/Morty Smith: Roiland dual-wields the roles of Rick, the genius but self-destructive scientist, and Morty, his naive, fretful grandson.
• Chris Parnell as Jerry Smith: Bringing a unique charm to the role, Parnell portrays Jerry, Morty's insecure father and Rick's constantly belittled son-in-law.
• Spencer Grammer as Summer Smith: Grammer plays Morty's older, popularity-obsessed sister Summer, a character that grows significantly throughout the series.
• Sarah Chalke as Beth Smith: Chalke gives a nuanced performance as Morty's mother and Rick's daughter Beth, a horse surgeon wrestling with her complicated relationship with her father.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The series has a bizarre backstory, initially stemming from a parody of the movie 'Back to the Future'.
• Many episodes are based on parodies of popular movies, including 'Inception' and 'Jurassic Park'.
• The title card at the end of each episode has a different, often humorous, tagline.

Awards

Over the course of its run, 'Rick and Morty' has garnered a number of awards. This includes an Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program in 2018 for the episode "Pickle Rick".

Quotes

• “Nobody exists on purpose, nobody belongs anywhere, everybody’s gonna die. Come watch TV.” – Morty Smith
• “Wubba Lubba Dub Dub!” – Rick Sanchez
• “I’m sorry, but your opinion means very little to me.” - Rick Sanchez

Music / Soundtrack

• The show's catchy theme song was composed by Ryan Elder.
• Famous songs like "For the Damaged Coda" by Blonde Redhead became highly associated with the series due to its use in a pivotal scene.
• The series also features original music by artists like Chaos Chaos, whose song "Do You Feel It?" was used in an emotionally intense scene in the second season.